From Marrakech to the Nile (11 days)

Riding a carriage in Marrakech.
By mwanasimba from La Réunion (Uploaded by russavia)
[CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1 – OFF TO MOROCCO! – Monday – Weekly Departure – Year Round
Weekly departure. Board a comfortable Air France, Swiss, Lufthansa, British Airways or Royal Air Maroc jet at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport for your nonstop flight to Casablanca. Airfare add-on is available from your major home town in the USA. If you wish to handle your own air fare please deduct $ 600 USD from any of the listed rates.

Air fare add-on:

• For Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando Houston: $350.
• SFO, LAX, SEA,SJS, SAN, PDX and DEN $ 450 (air fare is subject to change without notice)

Day 2 – CASABLANCA – MARRAKECH – Tuesday – Weekly – Year Round
Our international flight arrives in Casablanca. After completing customs and immigration formalities, and exiting the terminal, our local rep. will be waiting for you with a sign in your name, then we drive south to mystical Marrakech (private air-conditioned vehicle, private English speaking chauffeur). Check-in at your hotel. Private transfers at all times.

DAY 3 – MARRAKECH – Wednesday (BL)
We board a horse-drawn carriage for a clip-clop tour of this ancient royal capital, including the Kotoubia, a former royal palace, and of course the labyrinthine souks (bazaars). Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant. Sunset camel ride on the outskirts of Marrakech.

Day 4 – MARRAKECH – Home Hosted Family Dinner – Thursday (BLD)
One of the special ways of understanding a culture is through the local cuisine – not only sampling exotic tastes, but experiencing the preparation of dishes, how they figure in ritual and ceremony, and how they have grown out of the earth and traditions. We’ll proceed to La Maison Arabe or the Ecole Hotelière, Marrakech’s own hospitality & Culinary Academy and training school, for a demonstration of the preparation of pastry-style doughs. We’ll stay for a lunch of salads, tagine of Maghdour kebab, and refreshing fruits.

This evening we’ll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread… right into the homes of some of the people of Marrakech! You’ll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you’ll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they’re sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you’ll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, if you prefer, you may enjoy dinner in a quiet restaurant with your travel companions by letting us know your preferences.

Day 5 – CASABLANCA- Friday (BL)
“Getting there is half the fun!” We board the train for our return to Casablanca, cruising through the lovely countryside past green fields, fruit-laden orchards, traditional villages and modern towns, with the lofty Atlas Mountains soaring in the distance. Our local rep. will be waiting for you at the train station in Casablanca with a sign in your name.

Lunch is included in Casablanca. Our tour escort points out interesting features, and fills us in on Moroccan life and culture. After arriving in Casablanca, we visit the majestic new Grand Mosque of King Hassan II, second only to the Great Mosque at Mecca in size. We continue on a panoramic tour of the city and its souks. Private transfers at all times. Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.

Day 6 – CASABLANCA – CAIRO/ EGYPT – Saturday (B)
After breakfast, we drive to the airport for our Royal Air Maroc or Egyptair flight across North Africa to Egypt. We arrive in Cairo.Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport.

VIP Arrival Hall At Cairo Airport, no photos required. Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports and then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments. Depending on the arrival time you may land early AM or late afternoon. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 7 – CAIRO – Sunday (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel, morning at leisure. Refreshed, in the afternoon we visit the Citadel of Saladin and its Alabaster Mosque, enjoying spectacular views of the city below. We descend from the Citadel into Khan el-Khalili, the bazaar district, in search of Egyptian treasures as well as the newly restored Muizz LedeenAllah medieval district. The rest of the day is yours. Lunch is included at Hadaik Al-Azhar Park, Abu El-Sid restaurant or similar.

DAY 8 – CAIRO – Monday (BLD)
Today we visit Cairo’s most famous monuments: the awesome pyramids of Giza, Cheops Royal Barge Museum, the Valley Temple and the timeless Sphinx. After lunch at the Mena House we drive to Dahshour, the pyramid field south of Cairo, where we visit several ancient structures, including the great pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Lunch is included at the Mena House. Dinner is included at La Bodega restaurant.

DAY 9 – LUXOR – Tuesday (BL)
Very early breakfast at the hotel. Then we head for our 6 AM flight to Luxor. From the airport in this Ancient Egyptian capital we cross the Nile to visit the Valley of the Kings and the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch in Luxor at Sonesta Hotel or Al-Moudira Hotel, we tour the stupendous Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and visit the Sacred Lake, obelisks and colossal statues. We take a quick look at the great temple of Amon Ra at Luxor on our way to the airport for our flight back to Cairo and your hotel.

DAY 10 – CAIRO – Home Hosted Dinner – Wednesday (BL)
The world-famous Egyptian Museum, which holds the treasures of Tutankhamon, is our first stop today, after which we wander the narrow streets of Old Cairo (once a Roman fort). We go on to the Jewish Quarter, then the Coptic Christian Quarter, stopping at the churches of Abu Serghius and Al Molaka, the Coptic Museum, and the Ben Ezra synagogue. After lunch at a typical local restaurant, we head back to your hotel.

Day 11 – DEPARTURE Thursday (B)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight back to the USA. This tour departs from the USA weekly, year round.

Air fare add-on:

• For Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando Houston: $350.
• SFO, LAX, SEA,SJS, SAN, PDX and DEN $ 450 (air fare is subject to change without notice)

Christmas – New Year Holiday Supplement
For Christmas / Holiday Season, Dec 20- Jan 3: Please add 10% supplement to any of the listed rates.

Air fare note:
May – Sep supplement (does not apply when you handle your own air fare). Please add $450 high season supplement (this doesn’t apply when you handle your own air fare). Air tickets tax is included.

Your tour includes:

• Round-trip international airfare from New York City (JFK) to Casablanca and Cairo in economy class, including tax (Please contact us for add-on fares from your nearest airport to New York).
• Air fare note: May – Sep: Please add $450 high season supplement (this doesn’t apply when you handle your own air fare). Air tickets tax is included. Click here for a version WITHOUT air fare from/to USA.
• Domestic airfares within Morocco and Egypt in economy class, including tax
• First-class day train Marrakech-Casablanca, including tax and service
• All airport and train station transfers in Morocco and Egypt as described in the tour itinerary. Private transfers at all times. Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
• Your hotel room at a carefully-selected deluxe, or first class hotel, whichever you prefer, including tax & service
• B = Breakfast: continental or Buffet Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
• Guided sightseeing as listed in the itinerary including all entrance fees.
• VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ON LUGGAGE: When flying from JFK on Royal Air Maroc all the way, then 2 pieces of luggage are allowed to be checked. For West coast customers, who may fly British Airways into Casablanca, they will be allowed one piece of luggage to be checked in on board the ROYAL AIR MAROC flight between Casablanca & Cairo.
• VIP Arrival Hall At Cairo Airport
  Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as: American, Australian, NZ, EU, Canadian, EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 months beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. will meet you with a sign that carries your name, and will be waiting for you with the prepaid visa stamps to proceed to the passports control to stamp your passports and then you claim your luggage. After you clear the passport and customs formalities and exit the terminal, our local representative will escort you by private vehicle to the hotel. Welcome fruit basket & Egyptian pastry awaits you in your room with our compliments.

Not included:

• Gratuities / tips to your local guides and drivers.
• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance.
• International air fare from / to your home country.
• Personal expenses, including excess baggage or shipping charges, beverages, and personal charges in hotels for laundry, telephone, or other services.

(15 % supplement applies to the deluxe rate listed above)